The Labor enquirer., 1887-05-14
THE rARnHLL BRANCH.
Mr.. Herman Strauss ef Denver gives an
I Interesttng talk.

Mr.. Herman strauss ef Denver gives an
--f Interesting talk.
The meetings Of the Parnell Branch Of
the Irish National League at their hall,
4O7 Larimer street, on Sunday afternoons
continue to keep up their interest On in
structive topics On last Sunday after
noon, Citizen Herman Strauss, cousin OF
Ambassador Strauss to Constantinople,
recently appointed by the president, ad-
dressed large and appreciative audience
under the auspices Of the branch, choos-
ing for his topic "The Jews; Their
Bravery, Trial and Prosecutions" The
gentleman began by saying that he did
not deem it necessary to go further back
than the first century. he referred In
glowing terms to the bravery and heroism
of the ;Maccabees, in their struggle for
home rule, and likened it to Ireland's pres
ent effort in the same direction. The
speaker said that if Jew were appointed
to an Office, it was heralded over the cOun-
try as something terrible, but if Catho-
olic protestant or Mormon even got an
Office his religious belief was never
slider considered; that under the reign of
Constantine the Jews were cruelty and un-
mercifully prosecuted for worshiping the
same Jehovah that this Christian emperor
professed to Worship; that under the
regime of the Arian kings of Italy, of the
seventh and eighth centuries, the Jews
had their liberties; that when Peter the
Hermit preached the first crusade in the
eleventh century, the Christian nations of
Europe thought it would be very beft-
ting thing for them to e1terminate the
Israelites before setting out on their holy
mission. They commenced SO earnestly
that many suicided rather than fall into
the hands of their savage prosecutors;
that in the twelfth century Philip the
Second confscated all debts due the Jews,
which beat any bankrupt law that our con-
gress had ever passed. In Paris, in 1889,
Jewish churches were plundered and
twenty -four cart-loads of the talmud
burned. In the fourteenth century 160
live Hebrews were thrown into ditch at
one time and buried alive. In England
the Jews had suffered numerous .persecu-
tions, that they had frequently killed
themselves and each other rather than fall
into the clutches of enemies; that they
had been frequently plundered and robbed
without plau usible pretext. In Spain, in
the reign of Ferdinand and Isabelle they
numbered 100000, but were expelled from
the country and prosecuted because they
couldn'i be converted by the cruel machi-
nations of the Inquisition; that the down.
fall of Spain can be traced from that time.
The Jews enjoy more liberties in France
than in any other country. There are
Jewish generals in their army, representa-
tives in the legislature; that when Roths-
child was first elected to parliament he
could not take the oath, that rather than
violate his conscience, he waited till the
law in that regard was amended and then
took his seat. The Jews still suffered per-
secutions in Russia of a barbarous char
acter, but still that nation cannot 60 to
war without consulting Hebrew. Even
in Denver if Jew fails he is branded as
scalawag on account of his religion. And
if man of other religious views swindles
he is mildly referred to as Mr.. Jones,
Peter Smith, etc., no hint being made to
his profession of faith. Citizen Strauss
in conclusion said that he believed in the
doctrine of humanity and philanthrophy;
that all nations and conditions should be
given an opportunity of developing the
highest possibilities of their manhood and
womanhood: that Great Britain had no
right to say to the people of the Emerald
Isle how they should manage their own
local concerns, that the Irish had shown
themselves worthy and deserving in the
worlds history, and their oppression
should be banished from the earth so that
they might meet the freemen Of other
countries upon the level of a common
humanity, which would bless the present
generation and those who may come after.
The speak ker was loudly applauded.
Royal A. Thayer's recitation, 'The
Death bed OF Benedict Arnold" was grand.
Miss Minnie Craver rendered "Invoca-
ton" by volney, in artistic style, and was
roundly cheered for her effort. Her pop
ularity is on the increase.
Thomas J. Leavy's singing was a fine
feature of the programme.
Miss Maud Dunn presided at the piano,
This young lady is an accomplished mu-
sician, and has contributed much to the
success of the league.
Peter Meagher, the vice president, acted
as chairman in the absence of Mr.. Monroe.
the president. Mr.. Meagher is a machin-
ist at the South Park shops. he is not
only good at his trade, but whatever he
does in behalf Of the Land League he does
with credit to himself and to the organi-
zation.